Window raising and cleaning unit



Oct. 14, 1952 w. A. BOWMAN WINDOW RAISING AND CLEANING UNIT 7 2SHEETSSHEET l FIG. 2.

FIG.4.

7 Filed Sept. 11, 1950 INVENTOR.

N A M W O B A M M m .L i

FIG. IO

M ATT RNEY Oct. 14, 1952 w. A. BOWMAN 2,613,738

WINDOW RAISING AND CLEANING UNIT Filed Sept. 11, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2FIG.9. INVENTOR.

WILLIAM vA. BOWMAN lav/#141114}. M

ATTORN E] Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT 2,613,738 V WINDOWRAISING AND CLEANING UNIT William A. Bowman, Baltimore, Md. 7Application September 11, 1950, Serial No. 184,318

cation Serial Number 81,375, filed March 14, 1949,

now abandoned and in my Patent Number 2,513,278 to which referenceismade.

In the particular construction shown in the previous application, thewindow structure includes an adjustable frame and a plurality of sashesthat fold up into various angular positions outside of the normal planeof the frame window structure. The sashes are hinged together at theedges where they meet to enable this to be done. They are opened up ontheir hinges manually and held in any position selected by frictionallyengaging the frame with set screws adjustably projecting from the sashesinto theframe and by tightening both together. However, the objectiontothis specific type of adjustment is that it requires considerablemuscular effort to raise or adjust the sashes to a jack-knife positionand the frictional engagement is not as positive and safe fromunloosening, as desired. In this invention, the adjustment is ofdifferent construction, and is of a type that lends itself readily topower operation. It employs a'wor'm and link mechanism having a powerfulmechanical movement that is controllable for close adjustment andagainst slippage while adding appreciably to the appearance of'thewindow structure.

This invention has amongst its objects to provide a new and improvedadjusting mechanism for opening windows, that will avoid one or more orthe disadvantages and limitsof the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedadjusting and pane wiping mechanism for window sashes 'opening' injackknife fashion that will be powerful in action, and effective inoperation.

A'further object of thi invention is to provide a new and improvedadjusting'mechanism for window sashes opening in jack-knife fashion thatcan be power operated. I

An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedadjusting and pane cleaning mechanism for windows that will be simple inconstruction, economical to manufacture and assemble, and effective inoperation.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully setforth.

For a better. understanding of the invention and I tached to'the uppermember b the 1 -3 the objects thereof reference is made to theappendeddrawings wherein a preferred formof the invention, is illustrated. Thesedrawings together with the following outline emphasize the princ i--ples and operation of the mechanism, while -"the claims indicate thescopeof 'the invention; Referring to the drawings: Figure In a frontview of a window' structure embodying this invention, with the sashesinclosed position; g l U Figure 2 is'a sectionalel'evation taken alongline 2-2 ofFigure 1; I r

Figure 3 is'a front View similar toFigure' 1, except the sashes areinrai'sed'position;

Figure 4is a sectionalview taken along line 4-4 of FigureB;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of theraisi'ngand lowering mechanism andmechanismfor-operat ing thewindow cleaning device;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5 showingthe sash raising and lowering mechanism; 3

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Figure 5, showingthe method of "attaching the window cleaning device to the sash;

Figure 8-is a typical sectionahview taken Figure '10 is a diagrammaticwiring diagram.

Similar reference characters refer to parts throughout the drawings.

In the particular construction shown-in the drawings, a conventionalwindow frame ll] of rectangular form is set in a suitable opening'in thewall n of a buildirig. The frame isrriodified by eliminating the usualchannels in whic'hi'the window ordinarily slides up and down,"and; initsplace a bar of molding 12' ispinstalledagainst which the window sashesl5 and [6 can butt up. The window sashes instead of sliding up and downin opening and closing, move in aja'ck knife movement outward1y.- Thisis provided for by the upper member I5 of the sash being arranged withsimilar upper hinges l3'on both sides;'and attached to the insidesurface M of the moldingfbar l enables the sash [5 to swing; outwardlyandeas'y manner. The bottom member of". the sash I5 also has half 18 ofa hinge" 17 an lied to it. The other half 19 of the hinge "I andapivotable joint made between'tli m by a suitable rounding of thememberstoji 'ota te With 'one another. This is on the principl of 'theflballjoint. However, the lower member .32 I t I 6 is kept close to the windowframe III by means of ribs 33 in the molding I2. These ribs extendlaterally from the molding I2 and guide the pins 34 in the lower member32, vertically up and down. The upper member I5 of the sash moves inconjunction with the lower member of the sash depending on the amountthe lower member I6 of the sash is raised.

The raising and lowering of the sashes is done throu h the use of amotor mechanism. The mechanism consists of a pair of saddles that areattached to the upper member of the sash I6..

Saddles 20 carry segment teeth 2| as shown. These teeth mesh with theteeth ona gear 22, that in turning moves the saddles through apredetermined arcuate path and the saddles in turn carry the sashesthrough the same path assuming the straight or 'apexed positions alreadymentioned. The gear 22 is mounted and freely rotatable on a shaft 23that extends horizontally across the sash I5 as indicated, and hasclutch fingers 24 projecting from one side of it. The shaft iscontinuously rotated by a motor 25 through a worm 26 and a worm gear 21.A clutch 28 is operated by a shifter 29 and is keyed at 35;to the shaft-23 so as to rotate continuously with. it. Clutch 28 has teeth-30 onopposite sides adapted to engage in the fingers 24 of the gear 22 on oneside and fingers 3| on the opposite side. 'The fingers 3| engage fingersformed on a bevel-gear ,31, The bevel gear ,3! is meshed with two otherbevel gears 38 that-rotate individually screw -rods-39 on each side ofsashes I5 and IB. Suitable supports hold the rods 39 in place alongthevertical members of the sashes.

The sashes I5 and lfi have panes M and .42 of glass respectively set inthem. The rods39 carry screwed holders 43which carry rubber squeegees 44of a pair of window cleaners employed for cleaning the window panes onthe outer and inner sides of the windows. When the rods are rotated 'bythe bevelgears operated by the shaft 23 infclutchcd engagementtherewith, they incidently move the window cleaners with them. Thedirection of movement depends on the counter-clockwise or clockwiseoperation of the-shaft. The windowcleaners are used when the opening andclosing mechanism of the windows is not in operation, this can-beappreciated'by noting the positions of the clutch fingers and theclutch. Clutches 45 have fingers 46 for engaging the flngers35 onbevel'gear 31 and fingers 24 on gear 22. The clutches 46 and 28 areconnected by shifter 29 and may be shifted to neutral or to the left orright'of the window asrequired. The shifter is operated from inside theI building through .the use of the handle mechanism 41. The's'crew'rods' 39 with the .gearsY3'I and 38 are so arra'n'gedthat theycan be movedthrough an arcuate path without obstruction andinterference.with the jack-knife movement of the sashes V I5 and {15 7 The structureof the members of the sashes I5 and I8, "are slotted out and otherwiseformed to permit 'the cleaning operations without difficulty. e

The motoris operated to run in either direction, through the useiof thedouble-throw switch 48 and limit switches (not shown) may be provided ifdesired to shut off the current at suitable points 1 to prevent thewindows being opened too much or the mechanism from being stressedunduly.

The'diagram indicates the wiring 50 preferably used for the motorcircuitThe mechanism used in this invention is par- I6 from straight linealignment to apexed form, I

. centratiomof others.

ticularly desirable for future building operations, wherein the up anddown windows are displaced by the more modern jack-knife type. With thisinvention the window opening is positively controllable to any degree ofopening in a'positive and convenient manner and in all such positionsmay be cleaned by motive power, eliminating the use of human windowcleaners ordinarily employed. This is particularly:desirable because thework of human-windowcleaners is highly dangerous to themselves andothers. These men in their work are a source of anxiety and disturbanceto office. workers and on-lookers and greatly interfere with the workand commercial con- Further by the use of'this mechanism and itsconvenience the window panes can be cleanedoff frequently andeconomically. Also the window may be cleaned in its open or closedposition effectively. This is not feasible by ordinary human cleaningmethods. The advantages of thejack-knife operation are discussed inprevious patented,

The sashes are provided with roller screens and 66 which.inoye'w'ith'the sashes when they are raisedor loweredand keep thewindow opening closed. against'ithe admission of insects and the liketherethrough.

While but one" general form of the invention is shown in the drawingsand described in the specifications, it is not desired to limit thisapplication for pa'tenti't'o this particular-form as it isappreciated'that other forms of construction could be made thatfwou'lduse the same principies and comefwithintheiscope of the appended claims.I H

Having thus described the invention, what is freely mountedon saidshaft'at, each end thereof and meshing with --said quadrants, clutchingmeans for meshingsaid gears and said shaft, means forguidingthe lowerend of the lower sash for. reciprocating movement in the frame, andmeans for operating said clutching means to cause rotation'of saidgearsand quadrants when the shaft rotates-,-to;move the sashes fromalignmentto a-jack-"knife position, the motor being reversible to movethe sashes from jack-knife position to alignmentwhilethe gears'andquadrants are in mesh.

2. An operating-mechanism asset forth in claim LWhereinsaid-clutch meansinclude a pair of elements at opposite ends of the shaft keyed to andslidable on said shaft,said elements having teeth and said freelymounted gearslhaving axial fingers engageable with said teeth, and themeans for operating the clutching means comprise a connection between.said pair of elements and a handle to actuate said connection.

3. In operating mechanism for windows, the combination with a windowframe Of an upper sash pivoted "laterally at its' upper, end to theframe, a lowersash, hinge means between the sashes, apair of gearedquadrants secured to the lower sash at opposite sides thereof, a shaftcarried by and extendingjtra nsversely of the upper sash, means forrotating saidfshaft, a gear freely mounted on said shaft at each endthereof and movement in the frame, apair of squeegees, each of which isreciprocable on each glass pane, gearing means between said shaft andsaid squeegees, and unitary clutching means selectively operable in oneposition to mesh the freely mounted gears with said shaft to open thewindow'in jack-knife fashion, and operable in another position, to meshsaid gearing means with said shaft, to operate the squeegees.

4. An operating mechanism as set forth in claim 3, wherein said gearingmeans between the shaft and the squeegees include a, pair of bevel gearsnear opposite ends of the shaft, loosely mounted thereon, a pair ofbevel gears meshing with each of the first mentioned bevel gears, one

gear of the second mentioned pair being secured on the upper sash andthe other on the lower sash, a screw rod secured at one end to each ofsaid last mentioned bevel gears, and a squeegee holder for each paneriding on a pair of parallel screw rods.

WILLIAM A. BOWMAN REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

